The Woman King

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, with Dana Stevens screenplay of Maria Bello’s story, is this based on true events epic. Viola Davis is General Nanisca the leader of Ghezo’s (John Boyega), the King of Dahomey, elite all woman army, the Agojie. Dahomey is under threat from the Ozu empire, led by General Oba Ade (Jimmy Odukoya), who has a dark history with Nanisca, and slave trader’s from Europe and South America. Nanisca and her lieutenants Izogie (Lashana Lynch) and Amenza (Sheila Atim) are challenged by a young raw recruit Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) who has the drive to be Agojie, but the impotence of youth has her question much. When the Ozu decide that it is time to take Dahomey, the King and Agojie decide it’s time to fight back, defeat the Ozu and send the slave traders back across the sea.

I had really mixed feelings about this. It feels like there is a good and interesting film in here that is occasionally hinted at but never quite breaks through. The idea of a powerful merciless female fighting force, in a country, that many of us have never heard of, who played an active part in the slave trade is intriguing but rarely explored. Instead Prince-Bythewood has chosen a popcorn action flick that skates over them, which is a pity.

The story beats are familiar with a rebellious but talented youngster who questions authority at every turn, but who grows and becomes who they should. And it is this part of the story where it is at its best with fantastic action scenes and a humorous touch to its script.

Performances are excellent Davis of course, but Lynch, Atim and Boyega’s laid back King are equally good. But it is Thuso Mbedu who steals the show.

It is too long and can be ponderous, with a superfluous “love story” between Nawi and Malik (Jordan Bolger) taking time that could have been better spent elsewhere.

The Woman King for me didn’t quite work. It’s a film with some brilliant action and performances. But it is also overly long and skates over its more interesting themes. There’s a fascinating film in here that doesn’t quite breakthrough.